Billing machine aligner



6 1931- L. F. HAGEMANN I BILLING MACHINE ALIGNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 1'7, 1926 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

' June 9, 1931.

' Filed June 17, 1926 V II! I W! 'il W Hi -W M.

L. F. HAGEMANN BILLING MACHINE ALIGNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i I N] INVENTOR.

[I W W ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 9, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS FRED HAGEMAN'N, F NIAGARAFALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SALES BOOK COMPANY, LIMITED, 0]?ONTARIO, CANADA.

Applicationfiled June 17,

1 mechanism for adjusting and aligning the 5 paper record strips used insuch machines so as to bring said strips into correct position for thereception of an inscription, andfurthermore to tension the strips for asimilar purpose.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved practicalmechanism for positioning and aligning one or a plurality of superposedrecord strips or sheets into correct inscription receiving position on asupport or platen, and for relatively aligning the strips where aplurality of superposed strips are employed so as to bring the stripsinto c rrect superposed registry.

A f irther object is to provide in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved manually operable oscillatable strip engaging aligning member,engageable with the strip or strips to positively adjust them intoaligned posi-' tion.

Another object is to provide for machines of the class mentioned, animproved aligning mechanism adapted to engage one or a plurality ofsuperposed record strips at parts spaced longitudinally thereof, and toprovide an improved operating mechanism to manually move one of theengaging mechanisms longitudinally with reference to the other, so as topositively move the strips into correct position. I

Still another object is to provide an improved mechanism of the classmentioned which is simple in construction, positive and efiectivc inoperation and capable of simple and quick installation on billing orlike recording machines of existing construction.

Other objects will be in part pointed out in the following detaileddescription of an illus trative but preferred embodiment of theinvention, and will be in part obvious when read in connectiontherewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter TORONTO, CANADA, ACORPORATION OF BILLING MACHINE ALIGNER 1926. Serial No. 116,592

set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthe claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the nature and objects of theinvention, reference is had to the following detailed description, andto the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a billing machine of the Hat platen typeembodying'the invention, parts being broken away or removed tofacilitate disclosure; i

Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary longitudinal section takensubstantially upon the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the movable or active aligning pins,showing its relation to astrip which is to be aligned; I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing theparts in' difi en ent operative positions; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of one of the record strips such as used inthe machine.

The improved aligning and tensioning mechanism may be embodied inwriting or like machines of different character, but it is particularlyadapted for application to billing machines, and may be applied as anattachment to billing machines of existing construction.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the embodimentof the invention there shown, it will he observed that the improvedaligning mechanism is applied to a billing machine of the fiat platentype over which the writing machine proper travels upon supporting railsin order to efiect line spacing.

The supporting frame for'the machine may be of any preferred form, theshowing of the drawings being somewhat diagrammatic and fragmentary forconvenience of illustration. The main supporting framework or base 10carrying the operative mechanisms of the machine may be supported in anydesired manner as by a pedestal or other form of support (not shown).The framework 11 for supporting the track and the record sheets to bewritten upon may be supported upon the base 10 and includes two parallellon tudinal side rails or bars 12 connected i y transverse frame membersor cross Years 13.

The typewriting machine employed for writing upon the record strips isdiagrammatically shown in dot and dash outline at 14 and is mounted uponthe longitudinal side rails for movement back and forth thereon' overaflat writing platen 15 which supports the record sheets or strips S infiat smooth position for receiving the impact of the type. As willheunderstood by those familiar with this art, the general arrangement ofthe record strips and typewriting machine is such as to permit the typeto strike upon different parts of the record strips S to impartprintedimpressions thereto, whereby blank bill forms or like forms upon thestrips may be filled in with appropriate data. As it is usually desiredto make more than'one copy, a pluralit of superposed record strips maybe emp oyed as shown in the drawings, carbon sheets or similartransverse material being interposed between the adjacent superposedsheets over the platen. If carbon paper is used to transfer the records,the supply thereof may be supported adjacent the platen in an 0rd stripsS may be superposed, one on an other as desired to provide the requirednumber of copies.

The supply of blank record strips is preferably arranged in the form ofa zigzag supply pack or pad S which may be supported and housed upon oradjacent to the machine in any convenient manner. Each of the recordstrips may be provided with apertures S therein which are preferablyarranged in two longitudinal series on each strip providing pairs ofapertures disposed upon transverse lines of the strips as shown in thedrawings. These apertures are utilized for cooperation with stripaligning and tensioning mechanism described below, the pairs oftransverse ly disposed apertures respectively bearing a definiterelation to blank forms which may be printed ina longitudinal seriesupon each of the strips. Also it is desirable that adjacent blank formson each of the strips be separated by transverse perforated or similarlyweakened lines, thus dividing each of the strips into a series of formleaves. These weakened transverse lines aid in severance of the formleaves from the strips after a record has been entered thereon.

In order to retain the record strips in correct position on the platenfor reception of an entry or inscription thereon, and to assist ineffecting alignment of the strips with reference to each other and tothe writing platen, a front strip control device is provided in thevicinity of the platen. This device or strip retaining means may be ofdifferent preferred forms that shown being in the form of transversestrip keeper or clamping bar :16 positioned to rest against a crossplate 17 mounted in forwardly inclined position at the front of themachine upon one of the preferred known manner. As many recneoeeeo crossframe members 13. This cross plate is removably clamped in position bymeans of clamps 18 engaging lugs 19 upon the cross plate and appropriatelugs on the frame of the machine as shown. The cross plate 17 isprovided with a pair. of upstanding pins or posts 20 preferablyflattened or elliptical in cross-section and positioned to enter theapertures formed in the record strips S, and apertures 21 of theclamping bar 16. The major axes of the pins 20 are aligned transversely.of the frame and the longitudinally disposed minor axes areconsiderably shorter than the diameters of the apertures 21, per mittinglongitudinal adjustment of the cross plate 17 relatively to the clampingbar 16. Also the minor axes of the elliptical pins 20 are considerablyshorter than the diameter of the strip apertures so as to permitlongitudinal adjustment of the strips when impaled by the aligning pins20. In the illustrative embodiment disclosed, the pins 20 are rigid andstationary with reference to the cross bar 1'7 and with reference to theframe of the machine. The clamping bar 16 may serve as a severin edge atthe straight forward part thereof for tearing off the form sheets fromthe supply strips, and the pin supporting cross plate 17 underlying theclamping bar is cut away at its forward edge to provide a recess tofacilitate grasping of the forward edges of the strip.

Movement of the strip keeper, or clamping bar 16 to and away from thecross plate 17 to grip and release the underlying record strips may beprovided for as shown in the drawings by means of a system of leverscontrolled by a rod or link 23 connected to a manual operating member,as a pedal 24: pivoted to asupporting standard or column 25 dependingfrom and mounted upon the base plate 10. As shown the clamping bar 16 atits opposite ends is connected to and supported-by levers 26 pivoted tothe side rails 12 by means of a transverse rod 27 extending through thelevers and attached at its opposite ends to the side rails. Each ofthelevers 26 is furthermore articulated to the adjacent side rail bymeans of a link 28 loosely pivoted to the lever 26 at 29, and pivoted tothe adjacent side rail at 30. The rock arms or levers 26 are biased tohold the clamping bar in gripping position by means of one or aplurality of tensioning springs 31 anchored to the frame and to the lugs32 depending from the rock arms. Ushaped operating lever or yoke 33 ispivoted through its opposite legs to the adjacent links 28 by means of apivotal rod 34:, the legs of the yoke extending beyond this pivotal rodto underlie and contact with the rod 27 which thus acts as an abutmentor fulcrum for the legs of the U-lever when it is rocked by the pedal tooperate the clamping rod. The pedal rod 23 may be connected by means ofnsoaaeo a hook at its upper end to the U-lever 33. By means of thismounting the clamping bar 16 and the operating connections therefor; itwill be seen that depression of the pedal will raise the clamping bar torelease its grip upon the strips, while the bar is returned to grippingposition by operation of the springs 31 when pressure upon the pedal isreleased;

Positioned rearwardly of the platen is another strip engaging mechanismwhich is active in positioning and aligning the strips. This mechanismincludes a rock shaft 35 extending transversely of the frame of themachine and connected to be rotated in strip aligning direction byraising of the pedal. These operating connections include a crank arm 36secured to the rock shaft 35 and connected by a link or pin couplingmember 37 with one arm of a bell-crank lever 38 pivoted 'to a bracket 39which may be detachably attached to one of the cross frame members 13.The opposite arm of the bell-crank lever 38 is positioned to lie in anotch or aperture 40 formed in a connecting block or link 41 which isclamped in position upon the bow of the U-shaped lever or yoke 33. Therod or link 37 is preferably connected to the crank 36 by means of acrank pin 42 rotatably mounted in an aperture in the crank and heldtherein by a cotterpin or similar securing means. The end of theoperating link are tends slidably through an opening in'the head 43 ofthe crank pin and is secured by lock nuts 44 on the link at one sideonly of the crank pin head so as to permit the connecting link to slidethrough the crank pin, thus providing a lost motion connection betweenthe pedal and the rock shaft 35. At

its opposite end the operating link 37 is securely connected to-a crankpin 45 on the bell-crank lever 38, being similarv to crank pin 42 andthe link being secured against longitudinal sliding movement through thecrank pin by nuts LS-threaded on the link and positioned at both sidesof the crank pin. 1

The rock shaft 35 is preferably mounted at its opposite ends insupporting plates or brackets 47 spaced apart so as to lie with theirouter faces against the inner faces of the side bars 12. Thesesupporting brackets are ztrranged to be clamped and supported inposition on the machine frame by clamps 48 preferably attached to thebrackets and spanning the lower edges of the side rails and secured tosaid side rails by set screws or similar securing means. Secured also tothe supporting brackets 47 and extending transversely of the machineframe are structural tie bars 49 and 50 Which'may also function as stripguiding and supporting rods, and an additional strip guiding andsupporting rod 51 having edge guiding flanges 52 thereon for positioningthe strips edgewise as they pass onto the bed of the machine from thesupply pad. A unitary guiding and aligning member is thus provided bythe bracket plates 47 and parts supported thereby which may readily beplaced upon or re moved from the billing machine. It will be seen fromthe above description that the entire strip aligning and tensioningattachment together with operating connections therefor may readily beapplied to billing or like machines of existing construction with aminimum of labor and efiort and without alteration or impairment to themachine construction and without interruption to the normal operativefunctions of the machine.

A second strip control device is disposed in rear of the front stripcontrol device, this rear device comprising a pair of rigid stripaligning pins 53 both of similar construction and rigidly mounted uponthe rock shaft 35 normally standing in an upright position above theshaft so as to contact with the under surface of the record strips andto enter the aligning apertures therein the pins 35 being thuspivotally, oscillatably shiftable toward and from the front stripcontrol as well as in and'out of the ath of the strip. Each aligning pinis provi ed at its outer end with a rigid strip engaging nose orextension 54 of decreased cross-sectional area and flattened in adirection longitudinal of the machine so as to facilitate entry into thestrip aligning apertures. The aligning pin extensions cal surfaces so asto contact with an arc of considerable extent of the strip aligningapertures, providing a large contact surface. A shoulder 55 is formed onthe pin at the base of the extension 54 to function as a rest or stop tolimit penetrationv of the pin extension through "the apertures of thestrips.

The rock shaft 35 is preferably biased for rotation to move the aligningpins forwardly in the direction of movement of the record strips, thisbiasing function bein accom plished in the embodiment shown y means of aweight 56 mounted upon an arm attached to the shaft 35 as shown. Thealigning pins may thus be yieldingly. rocked in one gaging direction, bythis gravity means, while they are rocked in the opposite or stripaligning direction by positive aligning action of the pedal mechanism.

The objects and nature of the invention having been set forth and anillustrative embodiment having been disclosed in detail, operation ofthe invention will now be understood, and for emphasis and. clearnessmay be summarized as follows.-

The pedal of the machine being depressed to raise the clamping bar 16and to permit the aligning pins to be rocked forwardly under theinfluence of the weight 56, the strips may then be threaded over theguide bar 51, over the writing platen, and under the clampdirection,that is forwardly in strip disening bar where the forward aligningapertures of the strips are entered by the stationary aligning pins 20.Pressure upon the pedal is then released when the operating elements arepositively returned to normal position under the influence of the spring31 which is relatively heavy and of sufiicient strength to positivelyforce the connected operative elements into final position. During thisaction, the rock shaft is rocked rearwardly to positively rock thealigning pins in strip aligning direction, causing the ends of the rigidpin projection 5 1 to wipe or slide over the underface of the recordstrips as shown in Fig. 3. VJ hen the strip aligning apertures arereached, the pin extensions are thus caused to enter the apertures, theroundcd or cylindrical rearward sides of the extension then contactingwith the rearward sides of the apertures. Continued rearward movement ofthe aligning pin extensions positively pulls the strips rearwardly totension them and to bring them into correct position on the writingplaten. If the strips chance to be slightly relatively disalig'neollongitudi nally, this action of the aligning pins is effective also toalign the strips longitudinally relatively to each other to bring theblank forms thereon into correct superposed registry. M

It will be seen that as the operating elements of the mechanism movefrom the position shown in Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2 the bellcrank lever 38 will he rocked in a clockwise direction by engagement ofthe forwardly extending arm thereof with the upper edge of the cam lug40. As the movement progresses the said lever arm is withdrawn from theslot l0 and the end thereof comes into contact with the adjacent side orface of the cam lug 40 as shown in 2. The efi'ect of this action is topositively look the pin through the rigid operating connectionsdescribed to engage the acent strip aligning apertures S and thusefi'ect positive alignment at the strips, The pin furthermore ispositively locked final trip aligning position because the fact that thelug &0 contacts with the end of the adjacent hell crank lever arm so asto obstruct the hell crank lever against counterclockwise rockingmovement. As mentioned,.tl1e spring Ell is a heavy spring and of suTicic-nt strength to move the operating mechanism of the anachine tonormal position and the paper strips S are ordinarily in practice ofinsuficient strength to effect forwardroclring movement of the aligningpins even when the parts are in intermediate position with thehorizontal arm of the bell crank lever projecting into the slot 40. Inother words, the walls of the aligning apertures 52 are ordinarily ofinsuillcient strength to pull the aligning pins forwardly against theresistance of the operating spring 31. As above stated the aligning pinsare reoaeeo adjusted upon the shaft 35, this lug 5! may therefore beadjusted to diilerent limiting positions.

The aligning pins are in final aligning position when the end ofthehorizontal arm of the bell cranlr lever comes into contact with theface of the cam lug 450 and no further movement is imparted to thealigning pins or the operating connections therefor, alt iough theclamping loar 16 and the bracket 4- continue to move with movement ofthe pedal until the clamping bar is in final. clamping position, the endof the bell cranlr lever arm sliding idly over the face of the cam lug40% This provides a convenient arrangement to effect alignment of thestrips prior to the clamping thereof by the clamping her 16, thuspermitting the free and unobstructed aligning movement of the strips.During this aligning'ao tion of the, aligning pins 53, it'will beunderstood that the strips are impaled at forward parts thereof upon thestationary pins 20, but the strip aligning; apertures being of greaterdiameter than the minor axes of the pins 20, relative longitudinalmovement of the strips is permitted while at the same time the forwardends of the strips are restrained within certain limits. When theclamping bar isset into clamping position on the strips, the strips arepositively held in correct smooth tensioned position over the platen forentry of a record thereupon. lt will he understood that the record madeupon the top record strip is transferred to the underlying strips bymeans of transfer sheets interposed hetween adjacent record sheets in amanner well known in the art; for convenience of illustra-- tion, thesetransfer or carbon sheets are not shown in the drawing&

When an entry has been completed upon the record strips positioned asdescribed above, the pedal is depressed and the operative elements ofthe machine move the position shown in Fig. to that shown in 4-, theclamping loar 16 being first released to free the strips and the lug .46subs .ently contactin with the arm oi? the hen era l lever 38 til slideor project the connecting rod 3? idly through the crank pin head of thecrank arm 36. This operation frees the rock shaft and aligning pins 5-3to all restraint to forward movement thereofi The pins may actually hemoved either by the feeding movement of the strips or lay the yieldingor impositive action of the weight 56 which tends to rock the pinsforwardly to strip disengaging position. Due to this yielding opneoaeeoeration of the aligning pins,.tearing or other damage to the strips isavoided, which otherwise might occur if the pins were positively fluenceof the weight 56, aided also by the strip advancement, whereby theyaregradu-' ally and smoothly disengage-d from the strip apertures, pullingor undue stress upon the walls of the aligning apertures and consequentdamage to the strips being thus avoided. The next successive stripaligning apertures being placed over the stationary pins 20, thepressure on the pedal is released and the cycle of operations as abovedescribed isrepeated. The forwardly fed inscribed ends of the recordsheets may then be severed from the strips across the forward edge ofthe clamping bar 16.

It will be noticed that the normal position of the strips S in theirpath to the platen is substantially tangential to the arc of theswinging movement of aligning pin 54. This tangential relation enablesthe aligning pin in its strip aligning movement to slide along the undersurface of the record strip, thus to seek strip apertures and enter themwhen coming into alignment therewith. Continued movement of the pin willeffect strip alignment in the manner described. Also, by virtue of thistangential relation, thealigning pin is enabled to be withdrawn fromaperture engaging position when moved oppositely to strip aligningdirection after being released to free movement in this direction byactuation of the operating mechanism as described.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Having describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a frontstrip control device, a rear strip control device, said rear devicebeing shiftable toward and from the other, and manually actuatablemechanism operable to impart shift movement to said shiftable device,said shiftable device including a strip aligning pin adapted to engageapertures in the strip and pivotally oscillatable in a path intersectingthatof the strip and toward and from said front strip control device,said mechanism including a pm coupling member movable in one directionpositively to shift said pin "from sald front device, and movablerelative to said pin in the opposite direction.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a frontstrip control device, a rear'strip control device, said rear devicebeing shiftable toward and from the other, and manuallv actuatablemechanism operable .to impart shift movement to said shiftable device,said shiftable device ineluding a stripaligning pin adapted to engageapertures 1n the strip and pivotally oscillatable in a path intersectingthat of the strip and toward and from said front strip control device,said mechanism including a pin coupling member movable in one directionpositively to shift said pin from said front device,- and movablerelative to said pin in the opposite direction, said pin being biasedfor pivotal shift movement toward said front device and away fromthepath of the strip.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a frontstrip control device, arear strip control device, said rear device beingshiftable toward and from the other, and manually actuatable mechanismoperable to impart shift movement to said shiftable device, saidshiftable device including a strip aligning pin adapted to-engageapertures 1n the stnp and pivotally oscillatable in a path intersectingthat of the strip and toward and from said front strip control device,said mechanism including a pin coupling member movable in onedirectionpositively to shift said pin from said front device, andmovable relative to said pin in the opposite direction, said pin havinga weight-arm biasing it for pivotal. shift movement in anaperture-disengaging direction. v I

4, In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a frontstrip control device, a rear strip control device,'said rear devicebeing shiftable toward and from the other, and manually actuatablemechanism operable to impart shift movement to said shiftable device,said shiftable device including a strip aligning pin adapted to engageapertures in the strip and pivotally oscillatable in a path intersectingthat of the strip and toward and from saidfront strip control device,said mechanism including a pin coupling member movable in one directionpositively to shift said pin from said front device, and movablerelative to said pin in the opposite direction, said front strip controldevice including a fixed aligning pin adapted to engage apertures in thestrip, and

'a strip keeper movable, by operation of said actuating mechanism, intoand out of strip shiftable device, said rear device including astrip-aligning pin adapted to engage apertures in the strip andpivotally oscillatable in a path intersecting that of the strip andtoward and from said front strip control device, said front stripcontrol device including an aligning pin and a keeper having movementrelative to each other to engage and release the strip, said actuatingmechanism including devices for imparting shift movement to said rearpin and for effecting said relative movement between said keeper andsaid front aligning pin, said last mentioned devices including acoupling rod movable in one direction positively to shift said rear pinfrom said front device, and movable relative to said rear pin in theopposite direction, and means adapted positively to effect movement ofsaid coupling rod in each direction.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a frontstrip control device, a rear strip control device, said rear devicebeing shiftable toward and from the other, and manually actuatablemechanism operable to impart shift movement to said shiftable device,said rear device including a strip-aligning pin adapted to engageapertures inthe strip and pivotally oscillatable in a path intersecting,that of the strip and toward and from said front strip control device,said front control device including an aligning pin and a keeper havingmovement relative to each other to engage and release the strip, saidactuating mechanism including devices for imparting shift movement tosaid 'rear pin and for effecting said relative movement between saidkeeper and said front aliigning pin, said last mentioned devices inclumg a coupling rod movable in one direction positively to shift said rearpin from said front device, and movable relative to said rear pin in theopposite direction, and

means adapted positively to effect .movement of said coupling rod ineach direction,

. said last mentioned means including a reciprocal cam-lug having aslot, and a bell crank, coupled to said rod, and actuated by saidcam-lug. J

7 In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a platen for supporting one or a plurality of record stripsin inscription receiving position, a pair of rigid strip aligning pinsposi tioned' at the rear of said platen, mechanism 1 for mounting saidaligning pins for rocking movement longitudinally of the strip and in aplane disposed at an angle tothe face of said strip, a manual operatingmechanism connected to said pin mounting mechanism to positively rocksaid pins rearwardly into engaging position with apertures in the recordstrip to effect rearward longitudinal strip aligning movement, andyieldable operating mechanism to yieldingly rock said pins forwardly todisengage the strip.

8. In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombinatiom'a platen for supporting one or a plurality of record stripsin inscription receiving position, a pair of rigid strip aligning pinspositioned at the rear of said platen, mechanism for mounting saidaligning pins for rocking .move'ment longitudinally of the strip and ina plane disposed at an angle to the face of said strip, a manualoperating mechanism connected to said pin mounting mechanism topositively rock said pins rearwardly into engaging position withapertures in the record strip to efiect rearward longitudinal stripaligning movement, yieldable operating mechanism to yieldingly rock saidpins forwardly to disengage the strip, a strip clamping devicepositioned forwardly of said aligning pins, and operating connectionsfor said clamping device controlled by said manual operating mechanismso, as to set said clamping device subsequently to strip aligning actionof said pins while said pins are held in final aligning position by saidoperating mechanism.

9. In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a platen for supporting one or a plurality of record stripsin inscription receiving position, a-pair longitudinally of the stripand in a plane disposed at an angle to the face of said strip, amanualoperating mechanism connected to said pin mounting mechanism topositively rock said pins rearwardly into engaging position witiapertures in the record strip to effect rearward longitudinal stripaligning movement, means independent of said manual operating mechanismto rock said pins forwardly to. disengage the strip, a pair of stripengaging pins positioned forwardly of said platen for engagement withthe apertures in the strip during strip aligning action of said rockingaligning pins, a strip clamping device positioned adjacent said secondmentioned strip aligning pins, and operating connections for saidclamping device controlled by said manual operating mechanism so as toset said clamping device subsequently to strip aligning. action of saidrocking pins. I .10. In a strip alignin device, incombination, a'rigidcarrier-an a rigid strip aligning pin rigidly connected thereto andcarried thereby and adapted to enter apertures in a strip in effectingstrip ali. nment, means for mounting said carrier or oscillatorymovement, actuating means for controlling oscillatory movement of saidcarrier and operating connections between said carrier and saidactuating means totransmit positive movement to said pin in stripaligning direction to admit strip alignment" and to positively hold saidpin in final strip aligning position, said connections including meansto permit free opposite pin movement into strip disengaging positionindependently of the movement of said actuating means.

11. In a strip aligning device for billing machines, in combination, astrip aligning element for engaging in apertures in the strip, manualoperating means for positively moving said element in strip aligningdirection, a lost motion connection between said operating means andsaid aligning element permitting movement of the latter in the oppositedirection independently of said operatlng means, and yieldable operatingmeans for yieldingly moving said element in said opposite direction-intostrip disengaging position.

12. In a strip aligningdevice for billing machines, in combination, arock shaft having rigidly mounted thereon a rigid aligning pin forentering apertures in the strip, actuating means, positive connectionsin. said actuating means for positively moving said shaft to effectstripfaligning movement of said pin, and separate means for moving saidshaft in the opposite direction, said connections including a lostmotion device to permit pin movement by said separatemow, ing meansindependently of said actuating' means. 1 .7

13. In a strip aligning device for billing machines, in c mbination, arock shaft having rigidly m unted thereon a rigid aligning pin forentering apertures in the strip, manual operating means having a lostmotion connection with said rock shaft to effect strip aligningmovement'of said pin, and gravity mechanism for operating said shaft inthe opposite direction to move the aligning pin into strip-disengagingposition.

14. In a strip aligning device, in combination, an aligning pin mountedfor movement to engage a strip, operating mechanism connected to'saidpin to move the same to effect strip alignment, means operativelycontrolled by said operating mechanism to free the pin to independentmovement from strip aligning position, and biasing means to move saidaligning pin from strip aligning posisaid clamp, a rigid aligninalignment of the stri tion independently of said operating mechamsm.

15. In a'strip aligning device,.in combination, means for restrainlng'astrip against feeding movement, operating mechanism for saidstrip'restraining means, a movable aligning pin mounted for engagementwith the strip to efiect alignment thereof, operating connectionsconnected to transmit energy from said operating mechanism formoving thepin to efi'ect strip alignment, saidoperating connectionsincluding apart permitting free movement of the pin fromstripaligningpositionindependentlyof-operationofsaid operating mechanism, andbiasing means to move said aligning pin oppositely to strip aligningmovement thereof from strip aligning position independently ofconcurrent operatlon of said operating mechanism. V

16. In a strip aligning device, incombination, a clamp for restraining astrip against feeding movement, operating mechanism for said clamp, arigid alignin pin movably mounted for engagement wit the strip,operating connections connected to transmit energy from said operatingmechanism for positively moving said pin to efiect positive align mentof the strip, and an operating connection between said operatingmechanism and said operating connections for permitting clampingmovement of said clam after the aligning pin has reached fina aligningmovement while continuing to hold said pin in final ali'gning position.

17. In a strip aligning device, in combina tion, a clamp for restraininga stripfagainst feeding movement, operating mechanism for mounted forengagement wit the strip, operating connections connected totransmitenergy from said operating mechanism for positively moving said pin toeffect positive and a controlling connection between said operatingmechanism and said operating connections for permitting clampingmovement of. said clamp after the aligning pin has reached finalaligning movement while continuing to'hold said pin in final aligningposition, said pin operating connections including means to free saidpin to independent movement from final align ng position when saidoperating mechanism is operated to release said clamp.

18. In'a strip aligning device, in combination, a clamp for restrainingastrip against feeding movement, operating mechanism for said clam arigid aligning pinmovably.

pin movably mounted or engagement withthe strip, op-" I eratingconnections connected to transmit energy from said operatlng mechanismfor positively moving said pin to effect positive alignment of thestrip, a controlling connection between said operating mechanism andsaid operating connections for permitting clamping movement of saidclamp after; the aligning pin has reached final aligning movement whilecontinuing to hold said pin in final aligning position, and separatemeans for biasing the aligning pin for movement oppo-= sitely to stripaligning movement thereof from final aligning position,

19. In a strip aligning device, in combination, a clamp for restraininga strip against feeding movement, operating mechanism for said clamp, arigid aligning pin movably mounted for engagement with the strip,operating connections to said operating mechanism for positively movingsaid pin to effect positive alignment of the strip, a controllingconnection between said operating mechanism and said operatingconnections for permitting clamping movement of said clamp after thealigning pin has reached final aligning movement while continuing tohold said pin in final aligning position, said pin operating connectionsincluding means to free said pin to independent movement from finalaligning position when said operating mechanism is operated to releasesaid clamp, and separate means for biasing the aligning pin for movementoppositely to strip aligning movement thereof from final aligningposition when free to independent movement.

20. In a strip aligning device, in combination, an aligning pin mountedfor movement to enter an aligning aperture in a strip, means to operatesaid pin to exert an aligning ini'lnence on the strip oppositely to thedirection of strip advancement, and means effective when the pin is inengagement with an ali "ning aperture for rendering said pin incapa isof exerting restraint onthe strip oppositely to direction of travelthereof, Y

21. In a strip aligning device, in combination, a rockable member, arigid aligning pin mounted adjacent said roclrable member andoperatively connected thereto for movement thereby, and operatingmechanism for said rockable member to rock the pin in one direction' andincludinga lost motion connection so as to be incapable of moving therockable member in the opposite direction.

22. In a strip aligning device, in combination, an aligning pin movahlymounted for engagement with astrip, operating mecha nism connected tosaid aligning pin to move the same to efi'ect strip alignment and a riid locking mechanism for locking said aligning pin in final stripaligning position.

23., In a strip aligning device, in combination, an aligning pinmovab-ly mounted for engagement with a strip, operating mechanismconnected to said aligning pin to move the same to effect stripalignment, locking mechanism for locking said aligning pin in finalstrip aligning position, and means controlled by said operatingmechanism for setting said locking mechanism when said pin reaches saidfinal aligning position.

24, Ina strip aligning device, in combina= tion, an aligning pin movablymounted for engagement with a strip, operating mechanism connected tosaid aligning pin for moving the same to eiiect strip alignment, saidoperating mechanism including a reciprocal cam lug and a lever having alost motion operative connection with said cam lug,

25. In a strip aligning device, in combination, an aligning pin movablymounted for engagement with a strip, operating mechanism connected tosaid aligning pin for moving the same to effect strip alignment, saidoperating mechanism including a lever and connections for positivelymoving said, lever in opposite directions, said connections including areciprocal cam lug slidably contac ing with said lever so as to blockmovement of the latter in one direction.

26. In a strip adjusting device for machines of the class mentioned, incombination, an adjusting pin mounted for movement to engage a strip,operating mechanism connected to said pin to move it to eiiect stripadjustment and means operatively controlled by said operating mechanismto release the pin to free movement independently of the operatingmechanism reversely of strip aligning movement from strip aligningposition.

27. In a strip adjusting device for machines of the character described,in" combination, a strip adjusting pin, mounting means for supportingand positioning said pin for oscillation in tangential relation. to thepath oi the strip so as to move said pin into strip adjusting positionand to adjust the strip, operating means controlling movement of saidpin to engage and adj ust'the strip and means controlled by saidoperating means to release said pin to movement independently of theoperating means reversely to its strip alignmg movement.

28, In a strip adjusting device for machines of the character described,in combination, a

platen for supporting one or a plurality of apertured record strips ininscription receiving position, a strip holding device positionedrelatively forward of said platen, a strip controlling device positionedrelatively rearwardly of said platen and including a swingable carrieron which a rigid aligning pinis rigidly mounted for unitary movementtherewith in forward and reverse directions, said pin and the recordstrip being positioned in tangential relation with each other wherebysaid swin ing movement of said carrier away from said strip holdingdevice moves the aligning pin into engagement with a strip aperture andefiects strip alignment and a. unitary operating means for controllingsaid holding action of said holding device and for controllin the stripadjusting movement of said swings le carrier.

29. In a mechanism of the character described, a table to support aplurality of superimposed apertured webs, a device pivot hm L0 5 FREDHAG ally mounted at one end of said table for movement about an axissubstantiall garallel with said table and adapted to exten t rough theapertures in said websand to adjust sald 5 webs with relation to eachother, and a device for imparting pivotal movement to said adjustingdevice and for holding the adjusted webs against movement.

In testimon whereof I aflix m%: signature. MANN.

